The IPL 2023 mini-auction is set to take place on Friday, December 23, in Kochi. Four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will enter the auction with a purse of INR 20.45 Crore and the aim to solidify their squad that finished at the 9th spot in IPL 2022.
The IPL 2023 is all but certain to be MS Dhoni’s last IPL, so the franchise would want to give him a send-off with another IPL trophy.
CSK has always had a smart group when it comes to making decisions leading up to the auction and the calmness and composure of their experienced pros reflect during the auction too.
CSK doesn’t often splash out big money in the auctions. But when they do, they go only after the players they have full faith in.
Here are the 5 most expensive buys made by CSK in the auction history:
Deepak Chahar – 14 crore (2022)
Both CSK and MI aim to retain and rebuy as much of their core as possible; this is a key reason both these teams are the most successful ones in the IPL.
Deepak Chahar had been with CSK from 2018 (bought for 80 lakhs then) to 2021, CSK couldn’t retain him as one of the four players. So they shelled out their purse in the IPL 2022 mega-auction – 14 crore – for Chahar, making him the most expensive Indian seamer at any IPL auction.
Unfortunately, Chahar got injured a month ahead of the IPL and was ruled out of the entire tournament.
For CSK, Chahar has taken 58 wickets in 58 IPL games at a good economy of 7.7, which is very impressive considering he bowled about 2-3 overs regularly in the powerplay. Chahar also ascended in India ranks in this period.
Ravindra Jadeja – 9.72 crore (2012)
By the 2012 IPL auction, Ravindra Jadeja had already played for three years in India’s white-ball teams under MS Dhoni. So it wasn’t surprising when CSK pushed hard for the Gujarat all-rounder when he was up for grabs in the 2012 auction. CSK broke the bank to get Jadeja, splurging 9.72 crore making him the most expensive player of that year’s auction.
Jadeja has won two IPL titles with CSK- in 2018 and 2021; the left-handed all-rounder has featured in 142 matches for CSK out of his total 210 IPL games. He was named the captain for IPL 2022 but stepped down mid-season after a disastrous half-campaign.
Krishnappa Gowtham – 9.25 crore (2021)
Karantaka’s Krishnappa Gowtham became a millionaire when CSK made a surprisingly high bid of 9.25 crore for the off-spinning all-rounder in the IPL 2021 auction. The surprise was a pronounced one more so when CSK didn’t play Gowtham even in a single game in 2021 and released him back in the auction pool.
Since CSK went with Moeen Ali as the off-spinning all-rounder, Gowtham was consigned to the bench throughout the season.
Kedar Jadhav – 7.8 crore (2018)
Then a part of the Indian team, Kedar Jadhav got his biggest-ever IPL contract when CSK spent 7.8 crore to acquire his services in the 2018 mega-auction. A middle-order batter who can also bowl part-time off-spin is what CSK saw in him, plus his vast experience of the Indian conditions.
In 2018 IPL, however, Jadhav played in just the opening game against Mumbai Indians- but he is remembered for his heroics in that match: Jadhav tore his hamstring while batting, but returned in the last couple of overs and smashed 24* runs off 22 balls to give CSK a memorable win.
He played in IPL 2019 and 2020 too for CSK, but those were two forgettable seasons as he scored at an average of 19 and strike rate of less than 100.
Andrew Flintoff – 7.6 crore (2009)
The big England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was a star attraction in the 2009 IPL. Attracted by his all-rounder faculties, CSK bid aggressively for Flintoff and bought him for 7.6 crore. However, Flintoff had a drab season, managing just 62 runs in 3 games and with only 2 wickets.
